The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-20
A LONG-FELT WANT.

Every trade, from that of brick-laying to
law or medicine, must have its protective
union nowadays; even the literary guild is
not exempt, as the American Association of
Writer'S formed in this city last summer,
will Indicate A union once organized, the
next step in order is the establishment OF
paper in its especial interest. There has been
some delay on the part of the American
authors in arranging for this necessary APP
pendage to their society, circumstance
somewhat remarkable, considering the fact
that newspaper ought to be feature right
In their line. The want, however, is about to
be supplied from what seems to be an outside
source, there being nothing to show that the
editors and founders of the new organ are
members of the association. The two Boston
gentlemen who are preparing to issue the
magazine are, apparently, not acting In
an official capacity as representatives OF
the society," but are moved solely by
motives Of philanthropy and the needs of the
case. Financial considerations may figure to
some extent, of course, in their calculations.
AS the proposed magazine is to be devoted to
naturally be expected that all persons who
now occupy or aspire to enter any corner of
the field of literature will become subscrib-
srs to it, whether they are members of the
American association or not. There are no
means of determining the exact number OF
these literary and would-be literary peo-
pie, but any editor of experience will proba-
bly, estimate them at from half to two-thirds
of the entire population. This will, of course,
insure subscription list for the new enter
prise that will make it a success from the
start. What the editors propose to do is to
assist all literary workers, including newspa-
per writer's. There will be instructions to
beginners in journalism, clerical contributors
of standing will tell how to write sermons,
advice will be offered to correspondents and
reporters; practical comments on matters of
language, form and style will he given,
together with suggestions to authors for
the saving of time and labor; above all
they will tell chow to get into print" This
information of itself ought to be worth the
subscription price, large number of persons
having already spent more than that amount
in postage in the Intellectual attempt to solve the
problem for themselves. We gather, in short
from the prospectus of the coming magazine,
that the constant reader may easily become an
expert in the preparation of any variety of
manuscript, and that by observing the recipes
with due care he may have his work published
The only omission noticeable on the part of
the founders of this literary guide is the fail
ure to insure supply of ideas to the writer.
This is not fatal defect, however; some of
the most popular" current literature, includ-
ing contents of several of the 'best maya
zines" proving conclusively that the incor-
poration of ideas therein is by no means a
prerequisite to success.
Armed with this magazine and ticket of
aulnlSSlou 10 tue conferences OF the Amerl-
can association, no ambitious youth need
despair of mastering in twelve lessons the
problems which have hitherto taken years
for the unasssted worker to solve IT, with
all the aids which are rendered him, he fail
to get into print he may conclude that
neither literature nor journalism is his forte,
and, by Withdrawing early, save postage and
much wear and tear of the editorial mind.
In the meantime the writer who has anything
to say will go on saying it and getting his
sayings published, whether guides are printed
and conventions held or not.